Laser identification devices and methods

Abstract

Methods and systems for identification of objects using a laser. Data for an application including transactional data associated with a user is accessed from a computerized database in a system. Systems and methods operate to select objects from an electronic display. In an example, these systems and methods operate to select objects from an electronic display using a handheld laser identification device. In an example, an electronic display is in communication with a database that updates the display of objects displayed on the electronic display.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a storage unit configured to store data associated with a user, the data including user-associated data; 
 an authentication module configured to:
 receive user-identification data associated with the user; 
 compare the received user-identification data with the stored data; and 
 authenticate the user based on the comparison; 
 
 one or more processors configured to be communicatively coupled to the storage unit and the authentication module, the one or more processors further configured to: 
 receive, from the storage unit, the user-associated data; 
 encrypt the user-associated data; and 
 encode a signal with the encrypted user-associated data; 
 a laser transmitter configured to be communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, the laser transmitter further configured to generate and transmit a pulsed laser signal associated with the signal encoded with the encrypted user-associated data only after the authentication module authenticates the user; and 
 a plurality of sensors communicatively coupled with the one or more processors and arranged in an array, each of the plurality of sensors configured to receive the pulsed laser signal; 
 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to identify, responsive to at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors receiving the pulsed laser signal, a product based at least partially on a position of the at least one sensor in the array. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication module is configured to receive user-associated biometrics. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication module is configured to identify specific directional movements generated by the user. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processers are further configured to generate transaction information based on the pulsed laser signal, the system further comprising:
 an access device comprising:
 a receiver configured to receive the transaction information, and 
 a user interface configured to display the transaction information. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the access device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
       6. A method implemented by one or more computer systems, comprising:
 storing, in a storage unit, data associated with a user, the data including user-associated data; 
 receiving, by an authentication module of the one or more computer systems, user-identification data associated with the user; 
 comparing, by the authentication module, the received user-identification data with the stored data; 
 authenticating, by the authentication module, the user based on the comparison; 
 encrypting, by one or more processors of the one or more computer systems, the user-associated data; 
 encoding, by the one or more processors, a signal with the encrypted user-associated data; 
 generating and transmitting, by a laser transmitter of the one or more computer systems, a pulsed laser signal associated with the signal encoded with the encrypted user-associated data, wherein generating and transmitting the pulsed laser signal only occurs after the user is authenticated; 
 receiving, by at least one sensor of a plurality of sensors arranged in an array and communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, the pulsed laser signal; and 
 identifying, by the one or more processors and responsive to the at least one sensor receiving the pulsed laser signal, a product based at least partially on a position of the at least one sensor in the array. 
 
     
     
       7. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving user-identification data associated with the user comprises receiving user-associated biometrics. 
     
     
       8. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving user-identification data associated with the user includes identifying specific directional movements generated by the user. 
     
     
       9. The computer-implemented method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 generating transaction information based on the pulsed laser signal; 
 receiving, by an access device, the transaction information; 
 displaying, by the access device, the transaction information on a user interface. 
 
     
     
       10. The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the access device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with computer program instructions that when executed by one or more computer systems cause the one or more computer systems to perform operations comprising:
 storing, in a storage unit, data associated with a user, the data including user-associated data; 
 receiving, by an authentication module of the one or more computer systems, user-identification data associated with the user; 
 comparing, by the authentication module, the received user-identification data with the stored data; 
 authenticating, by the authentication module, the user based on the comparison; 
 encrypting, by one or more processors of the one or more computer systems, the user-associated data; 
 encoding, by the one or more processors, a signal with the encrypted user-associated data; 
 generating and transmitting, by a laser transmitter of the one or more computer systems, a pulsed laser signal associated with the signal encoded with the encrypted user-associated data, wherein generating and transmitting the pulsed laser signal only occurs after the user is authenticated; 
 receiving, by at least one sensor of a plurality of sensors arranged in an array and communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, the pulsed laser signal; and 
 identifying, by the one or more processors and responsive to the at least one sensor receiving the pulsed laser signal, a product based at least partially on a position of the at least one sensor in the array. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein receiving user-identification data associated with the user comprises receiving user-associated biometrics. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein receiving user-identification data associated with the user includes identifying specific directional movements generated by the user. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 generating, by the one or more processors, transaction information based on the pulsed laser signal; 
 receiving, by an access device, the transaction information; 
 displaying, by the access device, the transaction information on a user interface. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer storage medium of  claim 14 , wherein the access device is a mobile phone.